Comrades of the Great War

"Comrades of The Great War" was one of the original four ex-service associations that amalgamated during 1921 to form "The British Legion"

They four consisted of:-
"Comrades of the Great War",
the "National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers",
the "National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers"
and the "Officers' Association".

Consequently the "British Legion" was founded in 1921 as a voice for all those ex-Service personnel.

Local Bures records show that the village had a "Comrades" branch between April 30th 1919 until it amalgamation on the 15th May 1922.

List of Bures members dated 1918.
This is not a comprehensive list as the name were taken from several documents, such a collections for wreaths etc

A Foreman	F Dessent	A Stebbing	F Graves	H Stebbing
W Powell	M Hook	Ted Deeks	S Mortimwer	J Page
S Eves	Y Mortimer	B White	Moore	L Stebbing
Baldwyn	R See	F Beard	E Garrod	Cpt Redhill
Dr Griffith	A Cook	M Sherlock	Col Probert	A Graves
C Traylor	F Pepper	B Cansdale	H Reditt	W Spurgeon
A Powell	G Twitchett	S Deaves	H Baldwyn	W Mortimer
E Bays	G Baxter	Page Baxter	C Pilgrim	J Aldous
B Fisher	F Cook	Walter Cardy	H Austin	A Death
Mr Smart	Mrs Smart	Livermore

List of Pebmarsh Members dated 1918

S Cook

B Binks

E Dixey

A Binks

W Sycamore

On April 11th 1921 the association listed 86 members.

	It would appear the Comrades took part in Cricket and Football matches as well as Concerts over at Pebmarsh. I presume the Victory Hall was not their first choice, as they used the "New Room" over at Pebmarsh no doubt to assist their local members. <<see left invoice The Bures Minute Book registers a final meeting of the Comrades on June 10th 1922 when the accounts were closed and the balance of £1.13.2 was handed to the Treasurer of the Victory Hall. Those present at this final meeting were Messrs A Powell, Rev E Molesworth, F Pepper, G Twitchett, S Mortimer, Diggens, A Clampin, S Deaves, F Beard, H Wallis, R Lee. Y Graves and C Traylor.
	Bures Comrades Football Team 1923/24
	Comrades Football Team 1929- 1930 This picture could be outside the Horseshoes Pub which was their headquarters, middle row 3rd left with the big hair James Willis ( Jim ) died at 86 so he would be approx 27 in the picture, last player bottom right Sid Willis Photo and names courtesy of Chris Willis
Top left Baxter, Jim Carter, Baldwin, Albert Eaves, George Bowell, Allen Edwards, George Graves, Gordon Drake, Webber, George Springett Bottom left Mr Miller, Les Munson, Walter Frost, Ernie Eaves, Bert Binks, Sid Willis, Alf Powell, Mrs Miller Photo and names courtesy of Chris Willis	Bures Comrades Football Team 1930/31
	Bures Comrades Football Team 1923/4
	Bures Comrades Football Team Sidney Mortimer bottom right Date unknown
	Bures Comrades Football Team 1923/4 (duplicate image)

Although nationally the "Comrades" were amalgamated into the newly formed "British Legion" the Bures branch for some unexplained reason decided to close.
Perhaps disillusionment at the failure of the Government to provide the "great new country, fit for heroes" to arise from the ashes of the Great War! Perhaps the war was something they all wanted to forget about and then fervor was rekindled by the emergence of the likelihood of yet another appearing on the horizon.

On March 2nd 1938 the "British Legion and the United Services Benevolent Fund" was launched in the village.
The prefix -"The Royal" was added in 1971

Information by Alan Beales, Pat Creek, Mike Marsh (RBL Sudbury) Anne Snelling (RBL Bures)

Bures-online.co.uk *Serving the communities of Bures St Mary and Bures Hamlet*

The Comrades of The Great War were formed in 1917 as a non-political association to represent the rights of ex-service men and women who had served or had been discharged from service during The Great War.